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Protagonist

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

"Protagonist" is a fascinating documentary about the real-life journey of four men who depict the ancient components of Euripides, the Greek tragedy of Euripides idea by interacting with modern puppetry.

The film begins with not much of an introduction--it simply lays down the overview of four characters drawn from all walks of life. One night, a young Spanish man, Joe Loya, stabs his father, from whom he has long tolerated abuse. This triggers him to take on an outlaw's life style that leads to a series of bank robberies.

Then there's the kid, Mark Salzman, who gets beat up at school and dedicates himself to become a karate master. Another, the son of a Nazi father, Hans-Joachim Klein, moves from childhood depression to becoming a committed social activist, only to fall into a terrorist organization. Finally, Mark Pierpont, a Christian, ignores his homosexual desires to rant against the gay community as an evangelist.

In their different stages of life, the film inserts a couple of title card such as "Turning Point," "Doubt," and "Catharsis" to indicate their development. Soon all four realize that they've become the polar opposite of who they were at the beginning--the inevitable collision of hitting a wall. Director Jessica Yu, who is also the wife of Mark Salzman, analyzes the certain power of truth through intense interviews, trying to balance out those confused mind by the use of wooden puppet movements in their crucial moments.

The film completely avoids any conventional documentary approach, and is totally accessible for viewers. Throughout, the film captures these riveting tales with fresh eyes, leaving us with the haunting and striking essence of human nature. When you absorbed yourself as the "Protagonist", the film becomes totally engrossing.

Written, directed and edited by Jessica Yu
Directors of photography: Russell Harper and Karl Hahn
Music by Jeff Beal
Produced by Ms. Yu, Elise Pearlstein and Susan West
Released by IFC Films and Red Envelope Entertainment.
Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes.